Abstract: An electric wire with terminal includes an electric wire covering an outer periphery of a core wire with an insulating coating and a female terminal. The female terminal includes: a wire barrel having a bottom plate on which the core wire is placed and crimped onto the core wire; a groove portion extending from the bottom plate in a direction in which the core wire extends and whose surface on the side where the core wire is placed is bent into a concave shape. The groove portion has a water blocking wall molded by synthetic resin. The water blocking wall is provided to fill the inside of the groove portion. A region extending from the water blocking wall to the end of the insulating coating is covered with a water blocking coating, and the inner surface of the water blocking coating is in close contact with the water blocking wall.

Abstract: An electric wire with terminal includes an electric wire covering an outer periphery of a core wire with an insulating coating and a female terminal. The female terminal includes: a wire barrel having a bottom plate on which the core wire is placed and crimped onto the core wire; a groove portion extending from the bottom plate in a direction in which the core wire extends and whose surface on the side where the core wire is placed is bent into a concave shape. The groove portion has a water blocking wall molded by synthetic resin. The water blocking wall is provided to fill the inside of the groove portion. A region extending from the water blocking wall to the end of the insulating coating is covered with a water blocking coating, and the inner surface of the water blocking coating is in close contact with the water blocking wall.

Abstract: A coupling terminal unit (30) has terminal fittings (20) coupled in parallel by a coupling portion (31) and is stamped from a metallic plate so that the coupling portion (31) is extendible in an arranging direction of the terminal fittings (20). An arrangement pitch (A) of the terminal fittings (20) is narrower than an arrangement pitch of the terminal insertion holes (14). Then, since the coupled terminal unit (30) is stamped out such that the arrangement pitch (A) of the terminal fittings (20) is narrower than that of the terminal insertion holes (14), unnecessary portions between the terminal fittings (20) can be reduced. Thus, the utilization efficiency of a material for the production of the coupled terminal unit (30) can be improved.

Abstract: A coupling terminal unit (30) has terminal fittings (20) coupled in parallel by a coupling portion (31) and is stamped from a metallic plate so that the coupling portion (31) is extendible in an arranging direction of the terminal fittings (20). An arrangement pitch (A) of the terminal fittings (20) is narrower than an arrangement pitch of the terminal insertion holes (14). Then, since the coupled terminal unit (30) is stamped out such that the arrangement pitch (A) of the terminal fittings (20) is narrower than that of the terminal insertion holes (14), unnecessary portions between the terminal fittings (20) can be reduced. Thus, the utilization efficiency of a material for the production of the coupled terminal unit (30) can be improved.

Abstract: A connector is provided with a retainer which can prevent a retainer insertion hole from being exposed to the outside and which has a strong force for retaining terminal fittings. The retainer includes a pair of insertion portions 41, 42 having different lengths extend in parallel from a base portion 43 of a retainer 40, and tapered surfaces 32, 33 for guiding the respective insertion portions 41, 42 in a direction oblique to the insertion direction of terminal fittings 20 are provided at the back of a pair of insertion holes 30, 31 formed in a housing 10 in conformity with the insertion portions 41, 42. When the retainer 40 is guided in the oblique direction, lock projections 45 provided on the retainer 40 directly lock the terminal fittings 20. Since the terminal fittings 20 are directly locked by the retainer 40 in this connector, they can be retained with a strong force.

Abstract: A connector is provided with a retainer which can prevent a retainer insertion hole from being exposed to the outside and which has a strong force for retaining terminal fittings. The retainer includes a pair of insertion portions 41, 42 having different lengths extend in parallel from a base portion 43 of a retainer 40, and tapered surfaces 32, 33 for guiding the respective insertion portions 41, 42 in a direction oblique to the insertion direction of terminal fittings 20 are provided at the back of a pair of insertion holes 30, 31 formed in a housing 10 in conformity with the insertion portions 41, 42. When the retainer 40 is guided in the oblique direction, lock projections 45 provided on the retainer 40 directly lock the terminal fittings 20. Since the terminal fittings 20 are directly locked by the retainer 40 in this connector, they can be retained with a strong force.

Abstract: A double collar portion formed on a rubber plug intermediate opposite ends thereof and an umbrella-shaped end plug formed at a rear end of the rubber plug improve waterproofing in an electrical terminal. The collar portion is held in intimate contact with an inner peripheral surface of a tubular terminal-receiving chamber to form a seal therebetween. An open end of the tubular terminal-receiving chamber is closed by the end plug without a gap or recess, thereby eliminating the possibility of collection of water and virtually eliminating the possibility of water leaking into the terminal.

Abstract: A double collar portion formed on a rubber plug intermediate opposite ends thereof and an umbrella-shaped end plug formed at a rear end of the rubber plug improve waterproofing in an electrical terminal. The collar portion is held in intimate contact with an inner peripheral surface of a tubular terminal-receiving chamber to form a seal therebetween. An open end of the tubular terminal-receiving chamber is closed by the end plug without a gap or recess, thereby eliminating the possibility of collection of water and virtually eliminating the possibility of water leaking into the terminal.

Abstract: A connector examining system includes a mechanism to move a terminal into a proper insertion position and to determine if the terminal is in the proper insertion position. The system includes a probe holder, a connector holder, and terminal pushing member. Resilient members assure that the connector is moved to a position where the terminal is properly positioned. A connector has its orientation corrected by a tapered surface of the probe holder. The connector housing includes a lance which projects into a cavity and is elastically deformable toward a lance flexure space by the metal terminal inserted into the cavity. A lance of the connector assures that the terminal is retained in the connector. The metal terminal optionally has stabilizers positioned on opposite sides of the lance. A check pin of the probe holder, which is insertable into the lance flexure space, optionally has a front end check portion pivotally movable toward the stabilizers.

Abstract: To judge with certainty whether the condition of attachment of each metal terminal is proper, a method and apparatus are provided in which a thinned distal end portion of a lance check pin having guide portions contacts an inner surface of a lance flexing space. The lance check pin, when inserted into the lance flexing space, is kept in a proper posture by the guide portions. Therefore, misjudgment of the terminal position is avoided.

Abstract: A charge coupling for an electrical vehicle wherein conduction is enabled from a charger to a battery on the electrical vehicle when a supply connector connected to power a source is completely fitted to a vehicle inlet installed in the electric vehicle, this charge coupling including a locking device for temporarily locking the supply connector to the vehicle inlet at a half fitting position, the electric vehicle being provided, on its body, with an accommodating chamber outwardly open to expose the vehicle inlet, the accommodating chamber being provided on its interior with a draining mechanism, including inclined walls.

Abstract: A grip shaft extends substantially longitudinally from the rear of a charge connector and a lever is mounted thereon. The connector is connected to a battery fixture by inserting it therein while holding the grip shaft. The lever moves the connector and fixture toward each other as it is pivoted against the shaft, thereby fully connecting the fixture and connector. Thus, the burden on the wrist of the operator during the connection is reduced, even if the battery fixture is horizontally mounted in a relatively low position.

Abstract: This invention provides a charging apparatus for an electric vehicle which prevents a charging coupling from becoming overheated and melting upon charging. In the charging apparatus, when a lever 33 provided on a supply connector 2 is grasped, the supply connector 2 is completely fitted to a vehicle inlet 1 by a pair of stays 36 connected to the lever 33. A slide switch 42, which serves to open and close a charging circuit in the supply connector 2, is inhibited from being operated by a stopper face on the lever 33 under a normal condition and allowed to be operated when the supply connector 2 is completely fitted to the vehicle inlet 1. When a microswitch 44 associated with the slide switch 42 is turned to ON, a relay 90 in a charger 74 is energized to close the charging circuit, thereby enabling conduction from a power source to a battery.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly used for charging an electric vehicle includes a power source side connector and a vehicle side connector. The power source side connector is detachably connected to the vehicle side connector mounted on the body of an electric vehicle. A locking device disposed in the power source side connector is turned to a locking state with an ignition key of the electric vehicle so that the connectors are locked in the mating engagement. Since the power source side connector cannot be disconnected from the vehicle side connector, charging can be prevented from being inadvertently interrupted. The charging can be initiated only when the connectors are locked in the mating engagement. Alternatively, the locking device can be used to lock a switch of a charging circuit in a closed position which allows charging to take place.

Abstract: A connector examining system includes a mechanism to move a terminal into a proper insertion position and to determine if the terminal is in the proper insertion position. The system includes a probe holder, a connector holder, and terminal pushing member. Resilient members assure that the connector is moved to a position where the terminal is properly positioned. A connector has its orientation corrected by a tapered surface of the probe holder. The connector housing includes a lance which projects into a cavity and is elastically deformable toward a lance flexure space by the metal terminal inserted into the cavity. A lance of the connector assures that the terminal is retained in the connector. The metal terminal optionally has stabilizers positioned on opposite sides of the lance. A check pin of the probe holder, which is insertable into the lance flexure space, optionally has a front end check portion pivotally movable toward the stabilizers.

Abstract: An engagement type connector assembly in which the arrangement of terminals is miniaturized. The connector assembly includes male and female connectors in which the female connector swings about a pair of supporting shafts provided at its end so as to be engaged with the male connector. The female connector includes a female housing and an outer frame. A pair of rotating shafts protrudes from the female housing in such a manner that the rotating shafts are in parallel with the supporting shafts so that the female housing is swingably coupled to the outer frame through the rotating shafts. That is, the female housing is supported through the rotating shaft on the outer frame. Hence, in engaging the female connector with the male connector by swinging the female connector, the female housing is allowed to swing independently of the outer frame, thus being correctly aligned with the male housing. Therefore, the inlets of the female terminals into which the male terminals are inserted may be made more compact.

Abstract: A wire insertion hole is formed through a rubber plug along an axis thereof, and the rubber plug has a portion having outer seal lips formed on an outer peripheral surface thereof, and a fixing region to which a metal terminal is clamped. The fixing region includes a clamping region to be clamped by an insulation barrel of the metal terminal, and a withdrawal prevention region. An annular groove is formed in the inner surface of the wire insertion hole at a position corresponding to a boundary portion between the clamping region and the withdrawal prevention region. When the insulation barrel is clamped, the withdrawal prevention region is forcibly flared to be engaged with the metal terminal, thereby preventing the rubber plug from being withdrawn.

Abstract: A charge coupling for an electric vehicle wherein conduction is enabled from a charger to a battery of the electric vehicle when a supply connector, connected to the charger is completely fitted to a vehicle inlet installed in the electrical vehicle, this charged coupling including a locking device for temporarily locking the supply connector to the vehicle inlet at a half fitted position, the supply connector being provided, on an end of which engages the vehicle inlet, with a protective member.

Abstract: A wire holder for a water-proof connector is coupled to an electrical wire which, together with a sealing rubber plug, is inserted into the housing of said water-proof connector. The wire holder has a regulating portion which is fixedly arranged behind the rubber plug, and fitted on the electrical wire extended from the housing, to regulate the bending position of the electrical wire.

Abstract: Lock detecting terminals are disposed on one of connector housings that are engageable with each other, and a short circuit terminal is disposed on the other connector housing, the short circuit terminal serving to short-circuit the lock detecting terminals upon engagement of both housings. The lock detecting terminals are arranged so as to extend along an inner wall surface of the housing in such a manner that the distal ends thereof are not contact with the edge portion of the engagement opening of the housing. As a result of this construction, the lock detecting terminals will no longer be deformed while caught by the edge portion of the housing even when the housing is being engaged with the housing misaligned.